hEAD cOAch mARK hUDspEth

hEAD cOACH maRK hUDspeth
Head Coach
Mark
Hudspeth
Eyes Greater Milestones
After Leading Ragin’ Cajuns
To Nine Wins & A New Orleans Bowl Victory In His
First Season At Louisiana
Mark Hudspeth is a winner. It’s that simple.
From his days coaching Winston (Miss.) Academy to
the 1997 state title to last December, when he provided
Ragin’ Cajun fans a last-second 32-30 win over San Diego
State in the program’s first bowl appearance in 41 years,
Hudspeth has been a champion.
Like football, winning is all he knows.
Hired as Louisiana’s 26th head coach in program history on Dec. 13, 2010, Hudspeth quickly grabbed the attention of Ragin’ Cajuns fans with his dynamic personality,
energy and desire. He tirelessly toured the Acadiana area,
visiting all five parishes to speak to any group that wanted
to listen to him talk about Ragin’ Cajuns football.
And seemingly overnight, he reversed UL’s football
fortunes, taking the Ragin’ Cajuns from nine losses in 2010
to a school-record tying nine wins in 2011.
From the day he arrived on campus, Hudspeth began
educating the Ragin’ Cajuns on how to win.
One of the first lessons he gave came when he had the
offense and defense engage in an old-fashioned tug of war.
As the rope went back and forth with neither team generating enough force to win the battle, Hudspeth stopped the
Cajuns and had both teams move to the same side of the
rope, pointing out how much easier it is to move the rope
when everyone was on the same side and fighting for the
same thing.
Months later in New Orleans with Louisiana down a
point with 35 seconds left and a seemingly endless length
of Superdome turf away from even having a chance to win,
the Ragin’ Cajuns remembered that lesson by digging in
34 U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A and driving 49 yards in five plays to set up Brett Baer’s
game-winning 50-yard field goal as time expired.
“We never let go of the rope”, Hudspeth told the Cajun
fans in attendance.
Hudspeth also boldly predicted that home games at
Cajun Field would be the place to be and all but demanded
that Louisiana fans be there. True to his word, the Ragin’
Cajuns went undefeated at home for only the fourth time in
stadium history (and first since 1987). Cajuns fans believed
the young coach, setting a school record for season tickets
sold which helped to set a stadium record by averaging
29,171 fans per game in the 31,000 seat facility. The
increase of 11, 788 fans per game was the highest in the
nation.
Hudspeth was rewarded for turning around the Ragin’
Cajuns, being named a finalist for both the Liberty Mutual
Coach of the Year and Paul Bear Bryant Awards.
A 20-year coaching veteran, Hudspeth carries a 75-25
career record in eight seasons as head coach into the 2012
campaign, winning 10 or more games five times and having winning records in seven straight campaigns.
Hudspeth’s coaching philosophy focuses on the traditional core values that he learned growing up in small town
Mississippi, with the willingness to shake things up when
given the chance.
Hudspeth’s desire is to dominate physically and always
keep the pressure on. In fact, he utilizes a pass-first nohuddle spread offense with a bevy of trick plays in each
game plan, knowing that the constant pressure keeps
opponents off guard. And, when they make a mistake, the
www.ragincajuns.com
Cajuns are ready to make the most of them.
A master motivator, he takes advantage of every
opportunity to teach a lesson to the Cajuns.
Prior to the FIU game last year, he surprised the Ragin’
Cajuns by outfitting them in black helmets and black pants,
a combination that was never used before. The motivation
worked as UL ended a two-game losing streak against the
Panthers.
Hudspeth is also a teacher, knowing that the onus is on
him to not only win football games, but to do so the right
way. He realizes that it is more important that he help the
Ragin’ Cajuns players make the transformation from young
adults to men, knowing that he has been entrusted with
the lives of his players by the parents and families of each
player.
Hudspeth takes that to heart, instructing the squad on
the life’s lessons he has learned. He demands that each
player give 100 percent. . . on the field, in the classroom and
in their personal life. . . knowing that by doing so, they will
eventually become champions in their personal life when
their football playing days are over.
And as good as the 2011 season went for UL, Hudspeth
has his sights set on even greater accomplishments starting
in 2012, knowing that the Ragin’ Cajuns have only scratched
the surface of what is possible.
Hudspeth, 43, came to Lafayette after serving as the
passing game coordinator at Mississippi State for two seasons (2009-10), helping the Bulldogs end eight years of
football frustrations by posting an 8-4 record and a Gator
Bowl appearance in his final season.
2012 Football
head coach mark hudspeth
After three years as an assistant coach at Delta State
(1999-2000) and Navy (2001), Hudspeth took over as head
coach at North Alabama and the winning quickly commenced. He guided the Lions to a 66-21 record in seven
seasons (2002-08), winning two Gulf South Conference
titles and making five appearances in the NCAA Division II
Championship, advancing to the semi-finals three times
(2003, 2005 & 2008).
Taking over a program that had three consecutive losing records, Hudspeth turned things around quickly, helping the Lions to a 13-1 record in just his second season
(2003). UNA claimed the league title with a perfect 9-0
mark and advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first
time in seven years, defeating Southern Arkansas and
Carson-Newman before falling at North Dakota in the
national semi-finals.
For his effort, Hudspeth was named the Gulf South
Coach of the Year while also being voted the NCAA Division
II Region 2 Coach of the Year by the American Football
Coaches Association.
The Lions were led that year by Wil Hall, who completed 72-percent of his passes, throwing for 3,531 yards
and 30 touchdowns en route to winning the Harlon Hill
Award, the NCAA Division II equivalent of the Heisman
Trophy.
The winning didn’t stop there as the Lions went 11-3
and advanced to the NCAA semis in 2005, the first of four
straight 10-win campaigns.
UNA went 11-1 in 2006, including 8-0 in league play to
claim its second Gulf South title, with
Hudspeth earning his second coach of
the year award while also being selected as the NCAA Division II Region 2
Coach of the Year again. The Lions followed that up with a 10-2 record and
an appearance in the NCAA Division II
quarterfinals in 2007.
Hudspeth capped off his tenure at
North Alabama by guiding the Lions to
a 12-2 record in 2008 and making their
fourth straight NCAA appearance, falling in the semifinals.
Born on Nov. 10, 1968 in
Montgomery, Ala., Hudspeth moved to
Louisville, Miss. before the age of one.
In a town with a population of just
7,000, he quickly became one of the
towns’ most notable young men. He
lettered a total of 16 times in five sports
at Winston Academy, four each in football, baseball and track, three in basketball and one in golf, and was voted
the school’s most versatile athlete as a
senior.
Success came to Hudspeth at
Winston Academy as he helped the
Patriots to the state title game as a
senior in football 1987. He went on to
The Hudspeth Family (clockwise): Mark, Tyla, Gunner, Major &
Carley.
THE HUDSPETH COACHING FILE
As Head Coach
Year School
Overall Conf.
2002 North Alabama
4-7
3-6
2003 North Alabama
13-1
9-0
2004 North Alabama
5-5
4-5
2005 North Alabama
11-3
7-2
2006 North Alabama
11-1
8-0
2007 North Alabama
10-2
7-1
2008 North Alabama
12-2
7-1
UNA Totals
Notes
Reached Div. II Semi-Finals
GSC Coach of the Year, GSC Champs
Reached Div. II Semi-Finals
Reached Div. II Quarter-Finals
GSC Coach of the Year, GSC Champs
Reached Div. II Semi-Finals
Reached Div. II Semi-Finals
66-21 45-15 (Seven Years)
2011 Louisiana
9-4
6-2
New Orleans Bowl Champions
UL Totals
9-4
6-2
(One Year)
Career Totals
75-25 51-17 (Eight Years)
As Assistant Coach
Year School
Position
1999 Delta State
Offensive Coor.
2000 Delta State
Offensive Coor.
2001 Navy
Offensive Coor.
2009 Mississippi State Passing Coor./WR
2010 Mississippi State Passing Coor./WR
2012 Football
Postseason
NCAA Div. II National Champions
No. 15 Final AP Ranking
Toyota Gator Bowl
www.ragincajuns.com
earn all-county honors three times and play in the
Mississippi High School All-Star game as a senior.
Hudspeth continued his playing career at Delta State
(1987-91), lettering all four years. He started at safety as a
junior and at quarterback as a senior.
After graduating from Delta State with a degree in
health and education in 1992, Hudspeth began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Central Arkansas,
receiving his master’s degree in secondary school administration in 1993.
While at Central Arkansas, he was part of the coaching
staff that guided the squad to the 1992 Arkansas
Intercollegiate Conference crown.
Hudspeth earned his first full-time coaching position
when he went to Nicholls State, coaching the wide receivers and tight ends in 1994 and the running backs in 1995.
His high school alma mater beckoned in 1996 as
Hudspeth returned to Winston Academy as head coach,
guiding the team to a 25-1 record and the 1997 state title
during his two seasons.
It was back to Delta State in 1999, where he served as
offensive coordinator for two seasons, winning the NCAA
Division II national title in 2000. The Patriot offense broke
21 school records, 12 Gulf South Conference records and six
NCAA Division II records en route to the title.
Hudspeth moved to U.S. Naval Academy to serve as the
offensive coordinator in 2000 before leaving to become the
head coach at North Alabama the following year.
Hudspeth, who is married to the former Tyla McConnell,
has two sons, Gunner (16) and Major (2), and one daughter,
Carley (13).
U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A 35
ASSISTANT COACHES
REED STRINGER
JAY JOHNSON
Assistant Head Coach/
TE & Recruiting Coor.
Offensive Coordinator/
Quarterbacks
Reed Stringer is in his second
season at UL where he serves as
assistant head coach. He works
directly with the Cajuns tight ends
while also serving as recruiting
coordinator.
Prior to working at Louisiana,
Stringer served as the offensive
player development coach at Clemson in 2010.
In his first season with the Cajuns, Stringer helped Ladarius Green
emerge as one of the top tight ends in the country, earning first team
All-Sun Belt honors while also being a semi-finalist for the Mackey
Award, which is given to the nation’s top tight end. Green was a
fourth round selection by the San Diego Chargers in the NFL Draft.
Stringer’s efforts as recruiting coordinator have paid bigger
dividends. His initial class produced eight players who were able to
contribute to the Cajuns’ success last year with the rest redshirting.
The 2012 class looks to be even stronger.
Before his time at Clemson, Stringer spent seven seasons at Mississippi State in a variety of roles. He began as a graduate assistant
with the Bulldogs offense from 2003-2004. Stringer was then named
the tight ends and special teams coach from 2005-08.
He took over as Mississippi State’s coordinator of recruiting operations in 2009 and coached alongside current Cajuns head coach
Mark Hudspeth that year.
Considered to be a relentless and effective recruiter, Rivals.com
rated Stringer among the “SEC’s Top 10 Recruiters” for 2009.
As tight ends coach, Stringer responded in 2005 by helping Eric
Butler become the school’s all-time touchdown receptions leader
among tight ends. Under Stringer’s guidance, Butler and teammate Dezmond Sherrod worked their ways to professional football
careers.
Stringer’s coaching career began as a graduate assistant/tight
ends coach at Delta State in 2002.
He was a four-year starter on Delta State’s offensive line, helping
DSU claim the 2000 NCAA Division II national championship with
then-DSU offensive coordinator Mark Hudspeth. In addition to that
‘00 national title, he was also instrumental in helping Delta State win
the 1998 and 2000 Gulf South Conference titles.
Stringer was a two-time academic All-Gulf South Conference
player and an Academic All-American and was named to the GSC
Academic Honor Roll three times. He earned a bachelor’s degree
in business management from Delta State in 2001 and completed a
master’s in business administration from Delta State in 2003.
Stringer was born on January 26, 1979 in Canton, Miss. He is
married to the former Emily Howell and they have two sons, Smith
and Banks.
Reed Stringer at a glance
College: Delta State (2001)
Years at UL: 2nd
Coaching Experience: 10 seasons
Delta State (2002), graduate assistant; Mississippi State (2003-04),
graduate assistant; Mississippi State (2005-08), tight ends & special
teams; Mississippi State (2009), coor. of recruiting operations;
Clemson (2010), offensive player development; Louisiana (2011present), assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator & tight
ends.
36 U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A An offensive strategist with two
decades of coaching experience,
Jay Johnson is in his second season
at Louisiana, where he serves as the
Cajuns’ offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach.
Under Johnson’s tutelage in
2011, the Cajuns became just the
second UL team to amass over 5,000 yards of total offense. Blaine
Gautier emerged as one of the top offensive threats in the south,
throwing for a school record 2,958 yards and 23 touchdowns. The
Cajuns also scored a school-record 420 points.
Johnson came to Lafayette after serving as quarterbacks coach
at Central Michigan in 2010, helping sophomore Ryan Radcliff 3,358
yards & 17 TDS) post one of the top seasons in school history.
Johnson began his coaching career as an assistant coach at
Columbia-Hickman High in Columbia, Mo., in 1993. He was a graduate
assistant at Missouri in 1994 prior to working as offensive coordinator role at Augsburg that season. From 1995-96, Johnson served as
offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Truman State.
Johnson moved on to Kansas for the next five seasons (1997-2001)
as an assistant coach. He worked as quarterbacks coach from19972000 before handling the running backs in 2001.
Johnson’s career led him to Southern Miss in 2003, starting a
five-year tenure that had him working with the tight ends (2003),
running backs (2004) and the final three as offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach (2005-07). USM flourished with Johnson on the
coaching staff, making five consecutive bowl appearances.
Johnson headed to Louisville, where he spent the 2008 and 2009
seasons, the last serving as the team’s tight ends coach.
A 1992 graduate of Northern Iowa, Johnson was a three-time
All-Gateway Conference selection as a quarterback and two-year
team captain. He led UNI to a combined record of 31-8 during his
career, three conference championships and three appearances in
the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. He finished his career with almost
500 completions and threw for more than 8,000 yards and 58 touchdowns. The 1992 team finished the season 12-2 overall and ranked
No. 3 nationally.
Johnson earned President’s Academic Excellence honors in the
Gateway Conference and was a Dean’s List scholar at Northern Iowa
where he compiled a 3.47 GPA. He held a perfect 4.0 grade point average while completing his master’s degree at Missouri. That earned
him a Superior Graduate Achievement Award from the Department
of Health and Exercise Science.
Jay and his wife, Lori, are the parents of one son, Cole.
Jay Johnson at a glance
College: Northern Iowa (1992)
Years at UL: 2nd
Coaching Experience: 17 seasons
Missouri (1994), graduate assistant; Augsburg (1994), offensive
coord/recruiting coord.; Truman State (1995-96), offensive coord./
reruiting coord.; Kansas (1997-98), graduate assistant; Kansas
(1999-2000), quarterbacks; Kansas (2001), running backs; Southern
Miss (2003-08), tight ends, running backs, offensive coord. &
quarterbacks; Louisville (2008), administrative assistant; Louisville
(2009), tight ends; Central Michigan (2010), quarterbacks; Louisiana
(2011-present), offensive coord. & quarterbacks.
www.ragincajuns.com
2012 Football
ASSISTANT COACHES
GREG STEWART
MITCH RODRIGUE
DEFENSIVE COOR./
Linebackers
Running Game Coord./
Offensive Line
One of the best veteran defensive minds in the south, Greg Stewart
is in his second season as defensive
coordinator and linebackers coach.
Stewart is charged with taking
the young and talented Cajuns
defenders and molding them into
a unit that is capable of winning
the Sun Belt championship. He took a good step towards that goal
in 2011, but with just three starters back for 2012, his ability to turn
potential into reality will have a great affect on the win total.
Prior to coming to Lafayette, Stewart spent 18 seasons at Jacksonville State, turning the Gamecocks into the most dominant defense
in the Ohio Valley Conference.
In 2010, JSU turned in one of the biggest upsets in college football,
winning at Ole Miss. The Gamecocks narrowly missed upsets the
previous year, hanging with No. 15 Georgia Tech and holding Florida
State in check in a 19-9 defeat.
In 2009, his defense led the conference in seven major defensive
categories, including scoring defense (17.1) and yards per game allowed (304.8). JSU led the OVC in scoring defense for four straight
years from 2006-09, allowing just 17.5 points per game in 2006.
In 2007, the Gamecocks led the league in total defense (354.3 yards
per game), rushing defense (145.5 yards per game) and opponent
first downs per game (17.8).
In 2006, the Gamecocks allowed just 17.5 points per game, 114.8
rushing yards and only 270.2 yards of total yards, which were all tops
in the conference.
In his time in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Gamecocks placed
24 defensive players on the All-OVC teams in his final three years.
Stewart began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at JSU
in 1989 and was elevated to full-time in 1991. He helped lead the
Gamecocks to the 1992 NCAA Division II National Championship. He
coached the Gamecocks’ outside linebackers from 1989-94, running
backs in 1995, defensive backs in 1996 and defensive line in 1997.
Stewart spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator/inside
linebackers coach at Delta State from 1998-99.
He returned to Jacksonville State in 2000 as the defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach.
Stewart was a four-year starter at nose guard for current Sun Belt
foe Troy from 1984-87. He helped guide the Trojans to two NCAA
Division II National Championships and earned a degree in sociology
in 1988.
The Decatur, Ala., native was born on June 6, 1965. He is married
to the former Angela Peacock and they have four children, Jessie
Kate, Hannah, Kinsey and Holly.
Mitch Rodrigue at a glance
Greg Stewart at a glance
College: Troy (1988)
Years at UL: 2nd
Coaching Experience: 23 seasons
Jacksonville State (1989-94), outside linebackers; Jacksonville State
(1995), running backs; Jacksonville State (1996), defensive backs;
Jacksonville State (1997), defensive line; Delta State (1998-99),
defensive coord. & inside linebackers; Jaksonville State (2000-10),
defensive coord. & inside linebackers; Louisiana (2011-present),
defensive coord. & linebackers
2012 Football
A 25-year collegiate coaching
veteran, Mitch Rodrigue is in his
second season as the running
game coordinator and offensive
line coach at UL.
Rodrigue joined the Cajuns staff
after working with the tight ends
and offensive tackles at South Alabama for three seasons (2008-10). His work at UL immediately paid
off as he molded an offensive line that reduced quarterback sacks
from 39 in 2010 to 25 in 13 games in 2011. The Cajuns used the same
five starters on the line in all 13 games with each playing 90 percent
of the snaps or more.
Prior to his arrival at South Alabama, Rodrigue spent the previous
nine seasons at Southern Miss, where he coached the offensive line
(2003-07), tight ends (2000-02) and running backs (1999). He was
named one of the Top 10 recruiters from a non-BCS conference by
Rivals.com in 2006.
From 2004-06, Rodrigue’s offensive lines allowed 10 sacks or fewer,
including just seven sacks in 2004. In 2007, he tutored linemen George
Batiste and Travis Cooley, who became the school’s first All-Americans
on the line in a half-century.
In 2004, he helped develop Jeremy Parquet, who was selected in
the seventh round by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2005 NFL Draft.
During his first season leading the USM offensive line (2003),
Rodrigue helped the Golden Eagles win their fourth Conference USA
title and earn an invitation to the Liberty Bowl despite working with a
unit that had lost three starters to the NFL. Rodrigue saw three players - Parquet (first-team), Jim Hicks (second-team) and Chris White
(third-team) - garner all-league honors.
Rodrigue also assisted with the offensive line during his initial
stint at Southern Miss, serving as the program’s graduate assistant
in 1989 and 1990.
During his 11 seasons at USM, the Golden Eagles made nine bowl
trips.
Rodrigue also coached several seasons at his alma mater, Nicholls
State (1993-98), serving as tight ends and offensive line coach as well
as offensive coordinator.
Rodrigue earned a bachelor’s degree in health & physical education from Nicholls State in 1988 and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Southern Miss in 1990. He
helped Nicholls State to win the 1984 Gulf Star Conference title and
reach the second round of the NCAA Division I -AA playoffs in 1986.
A native of Thibodaux, La., Rodrigue was born on Jan. 2, 1965. He
is the father of three children, Maci, Madden and Mallori.
College: Nicholls State (1988)
Years at UL: 2nd
Coaching Experience: 25 seasons
Nicholls State (1987-88), student assistant; Southern Miss (198990), graduate assistand; Pearl River CC (1991-92), offensive line;
Nicholls State (1993-98), tight ends, offensive line & offensive coord.;
Southern Miss (1999), running backs; Sothern Miss (2000-02), tight
ends; Sothern Miss (2003-07), offensive line; South Alabama (200810), offensive tackles & tight ends; Louisiana (2011-present), running
game coord. & offensive line
www.ragincajuns.com
U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A 37
ASSISTANT COACHES
MARQUASE LOVINGS
JORGE MUNOZ
Assistant Coach/
Running Backs
Assistant Coach/
Wide Receivers
Running backs coach Marquase
Lovings is ready for his second year
on the Ragin’ Cajuns coaching staff
after helping UL post one of the top
offensive seasons in the Sun Belt in
2011.
Lovings’ efforts during his first
season helped freshman Alonzo
Harris emerge early in the season, finishing the year with 700 yards
and eight touchdowns to earn Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors.
Prior to joining the Cajuns, Lovings spent four seasons at Mississippi State (2007-10), first as a defensive quality control coach before
taking over as defensive graduate assistant for his final two seasons.
It was at MSU where he met and worked with Mark Hudspeth, who
served as the passing game coordinator for the Bulldogs from 200910.
Lovings’ main focus with the Bulldogs defense was with the defensive linemen. He worked under defensive line coaches David Turner
and Chris Wilson (Wilson became the MSU defensive coordinator in
2011).
The Bulldogs had several standout defensive linemen during
Lovings’ four years, including Titus Brown. Brown signed an NFL free
agent contract and has been on the Cleveland Browns active roster
since 2008. Lovings helped three defensive linemen earn All-SEC
honors, with Brown (2007 second team), Fletcher Cox (2009 freshman
team) and Pernell McPhee (2010 first team) taking those honors. Cox
went on to become the 12th pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the
2012 NFL Draft.
Lovings experienced coaching in a two bowl games at MSU,
including the Bulldogs’ rout of Michigan, 52-14, in the 2011 Gator
Bowl. It was the worst loss Michigan had ever suffered in any bowl
game in its history.
Lovings also helped MSU win the 2007 Liberty Bowl, as the
Bulldogs defense held Central Florida to just three points and kept
Knights’ star running back Kevin Smith from breaking the NCAA
single-season rushing record. The junior finished 61 yards shy of
Barry Sanders’ mark of 2,628 yards set for Oklahoma State in 1988.
In 2007, Lovings’ defensive line faced three of the top four rushers
in the country during the season, holding each of them well under
their season average. MSU limited Arkansas’ Darren McFadden to
88 yards (143.8 season avg.), Tulane’s Matt Forte to 47 yards (177.3
season avg.) and UCF’s Smith to 119 yards (188.3 season avg.).
A graduate of and former walk-on tight end with Howard University, Lovings also has high school coaching on his resume with stints
at Dunbar High in Washington, D.C. and at his alma mater, P.K. Yonge
High in Gainesville, Fla.
He earned his master’s in sports administration from Mississippi
State in 2008 and pursued a doctorate in education at MSU.
Lovings was born on Nov. 13, 1983.
Marquase Lovings at a glance
College: Howard (2006)
Years at UL: 2nd
Coaching Experience: 5 seasons
Mississippi State (2007-08), defensive quality control; Mississippi
State (2009-10), graduate assistant; Louisiana (2011-present),
running backs
38 U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A Jorge Munoz is in his fifth year
as an assistant coach at Louisiana
and the second on the staff of Mark
Hudspeth. He will serve again as
receivers coach in 2012.
Munoz previously worked as
UL’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator from 2008-10.
In 2011, Munoz played an integral role in the Cajuns throwing for
over 3,500 yards. Javone Lawson (63 catches, 1,092 yards) posted one
of the top seasons by a UL receiver while Harry Peoples and Daryl
Surgent also emerged as steady targets for Blaine Gautier.
Record offensive results are nothing new for Munoz, who served
as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UL from
2008-10. In his first season, he helped the Cajuns to finish seventh in
the nation in rushing, 13th in total offense and 24th in scoring.
That same season, Munoz helped quarterback Michael Desormeaux
earn Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year while running back Tyrell
Fenory rushed for 1,375 yards and 19 touchdowns. Fenroy, a Doak
Walker Award Semifinalist, was named the 2008 Sun Belt Player of
the Year after becoming the school, Sun Belt and State of Louisiana
all-time leading rusher.
The Cajuns “Play Station” attack of 2008 shattered the school
record for total offense with 5,390 yards, scoring a school-record 54
touchdowns.
In 2010, the Cajuns ranked 34th nationally in passing offense,
despite starting three different quarterbacks due to injury. Tight end
Ladarius Green led the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns by
a tight end and earned All-America honors from CBSSports.com.
Prior to UL, Munoz spent three seasons at Eastern Illinois (200507), starting as receivers coach in 2005, co-offensive coordinator in
2006 and offensive coordinator in 2007.
Under his direction, EIU ran a more diverse offense in 2006, led
by OVC co-Offensive Player of the Year Vincent Webb and third team
All-American Micah Rucker.
Munoz spent two seasons as the receivers coach at Charleston
Southern (2003-04). In 2004, his wide receivers ranked first, second
and fourth in the Big South Conference. The Buccaneers passing
offense led the Big South and ranked 17th in the NCAA.
At Anderson, his 2002 offense ranked fifth in passing, while the
2001 squad was sixth in passing, setting 22 school marks. His quarterback, Joel Steele, was the MVP of the HCAC both years.
A 1998 graduate of Bethany College, Munoz was a two-time
All-American quarterback. He played one year in the Arena Football
League with the Albany (NY) Firebirds. Munoz was a multi-sport
standout at San Diego Hilltop High.
Jorge Munoz at a glance
College: Bethany (1998)
Years at UL: 5th
Coaching Experience: 14 seasons
Bethany (1998), quarterbacks & wide receivers; Southeastern
Missouri (1999-2000), wide receivers; Anderson (2001-02), offensive
coord. & quarterbacks; Charleston Southern (2003-04), wide
receivers; Eastern Illinois (2005), wide receivers; Eastern Illinois
(2006-07), offensive coordinator & quarterbacks; Louisiana (200810), passing game coord. & qarterbacks; Louisiana (2011-present),
wide receivers
www.ragincajuns.com
2012 Football
ASSISTANT COACHES
TIM EDWARDS
TIM REBOWE
Assistant Coach/
Defensive Line
Assistant Coach/
Safeties
An 11-year coaching veteran
who boasts a half-dozen years playing experience at the professional
level, Tim Edwards is in his second
season as the defensive line coach
for the Cajuns.
Edwards came to Lafayette in
January 2011, reuniting with Mark
Hudspeth, who he played with at Delta State from 1987-91.
After guiding a senior-dominated defensive line last season,
Edwards will be called on in 2012 to help develop a young and inexperienced squad of defenders.
Edwards came to Louisiana after spending the previous three
seasons as co-defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and
defensive line coach at Florida A&M. He was part of a program that
went 25-9 during his three seasons in Tallahassee.
Prior to his stint with the Rattlers, Edwards served a five-year
tenure at Hampton (2003-07). He coached the defensive line and
linebackers, in addition to serving as the recruiting coordinator.
Edwards helped bring in a wealth of talent that resulted in one
of the best four-year runs in school history. Hampton won three
consecutive conference championships (2004-06), made three NCAA
playoff appearances (2004-06) and captured back-to-back Black College National Championships in (2004 and 2005).
Edwards began his career as a defensive line and linebackers coach
for Kentucky State in 1998 and eventually had stops with the Arena
Football League 2’s Carolina Rhinos and Pearl River Community College, before landing at Hampton in 2003. He was a New Orleans Saints
minority fellowship Intern during the team’s 2007 training camp.
His days on the sideline have helped to develop the professional
careers of several former players including: Justin Durant (Detroit),
Kendall Langford (St. Louis), Marcus Dixon (New York Jets) Cletidus
Hunt (Green Bay Packers), Kitwana Jones (Saskatchewan Rough Riders,
CFL), Dewayne Woods (Georgia Force, AFL) and Chris Avery (Grand
Rapids Rampage AFL).
Edwards is a 1991 graduate of Delta State, earning a bachelor’s
degree in aviation management. He was a two-time first team All-Gulf
South selection as a defensive lineman and played alongside Hudspeth, who was a four-year letterman at DSU from 1986-90. Edwards
was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in the fall of 2008.
A 12th round pick by the New England Patriots in 1991, Edwards
spent the 1991-92 seasons on the Patriots roster. He later played
from 1995-97 with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the CFL.
A native of Philadelphia, Miss., Edwards is a member of the NFL
Retired Players’ Association, the CFL Retired Players’ Association and
the American Football Coaches Associations.
He is married to the former LuAnn Shockency and they have
three children, Halena, Timothy II and Kenci.
Tim Edwards at a glance
College: Delta State (1991)
Years at UL: 2nd
Coaching Experience: 11 seasons
Kentucky State (2001), defensive line & linebackers; Carolina Rhinos
(AF2) (2002); Pearl River CC (2002), defensive line; Hampton (200307), defensive line, linebackers & recruiting coord.; Florida A&M
(2008-10), co-defensive coord. & recruiting coord.; Louisiana (2011present), defensive line
2012 Football
Tim Rebowe begins his ninth
season as an assistant coach at
Louisiana, and the second on the
staff of coach Mark Hudspeth. He
will once again work with the Cajun
safeties. He previously tutored the
safeties from 2004-07 and coached
the linebackers from 2008-10.
The safeties responded to Rebowe in 2011. Jemarlous Moten
finished second on the team with 80 tackles and combined with
Lionel Stokes to intercept five passes, returning three for scores.
The Cajuns’ linebackers had stellar seasons for three years under
Rebowe, with a member of the linebacking corps leading the team
in tackles each season.
Rebowe guided linebackers Antwyne Zanders and Grant Fleming,
who ranked first and second on the team in total tackles in 2009,
respectively. Both players were named All-Sun Belt Conference. For
Zanders, it was his third All-SBC recognition, while Fleming earned
All-SBC for the second time.
The Cajuns’ pass defense had a strong first year under Rebowe in
2004, finishing with a No. 11 national ranking in passing yards allowed.
Both of his starting safeties advanced to the NFL. Strong safety C.C.
Brown (101 tackles) was drafted by the Houston Texans in the 2005
NFL Draft and free safety Antwain Spann, who signed as a free agent
with the New York Giants, played in NFL Europe and several seasons
with the New England Patriots.
In 2005, the Cajuns’ pass defense was ranked 23rd nationally, allowing only 190 yards per game despite opponents facing an uphill
climb in eight games. The Cajuns trailed after three quarters just twice
in 2005.
Rebowe came to UL after three seasons as cornerbacks coach at
Sun Belt rival La.-Monroe.
Prior to his stint with the Warhawks, Rebowe spent six years at
Nicholls State where he served as defensive backs coach (1995-2000),
special teams’ coordinator (1995-98), recruiting coordinator (19982000) and wide receivers coach (2000). In 1996, the Colonels pass
efficiency defense ranked seventh nationally in I-AA.
A native of Norco, La., Rebowe began his coaching career in 1987
at his alma mater, Destrehan High School.
His ties to the Cajuns began in 1994 when former Destrehan High
star Damon Mason transferred to Louisiana from Jones County JC.
Mason would go on to have one of the best careers by a defensive
back in Cajuns history.
Rebowe earned his bachelor of science in physical education from
Louisiana State University in 1987.
He is married to the former Kim Robichaux and they have a daughter, Samantha, and a son, Tyler.
Tim Rebowe at a glance
College: LSU (1987)
Years at UL: 9th
Coaching Experience: 24 seasons
Destrehan (La.) High (1988-91), defensive backs & special teams;
Destrehan (La.) High (1992-94), head coach; Nicholls State (1995-99),
defensive backs, special teams & recruiting coord.; Nicholls State
(2000), receivers & recruiting coord.; ULM (2001-03), cornerbacks;
Louisiana (2004-07), safeties; Louisiana (2008-10), linebackers;
Louisiana (2011-present), safeties
www.ragincajuns.com
U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A 39
ASSISTANT COACHES
DAVID SAUNDERS
TROY WINGERTER
Asst. Coach/CB &
Recruiting Assistant
Director of Football
Operations/Pro Liason
David Saunders is in his second
season as the cornerbacks coach
and assistant recruiting coordinator
for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Saunders came to Louisiana
from Mississippi, where he had
three stints on the Ole Miss staff,
the last beginning in April 2010 as
administrative operations coordinator.
His first season at UL was a strong one as he mentored cornerbacks
Dwight Bentley and Melvin White, who helped the Cajuns secondary
to return seven interceptions for touchdowns. Bentley, who earned
first team All-Sun Belt honors and was tabbed UL’s defensive co-MVP,
was a third round selection by the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft.
Saunders sandwiched a pair of coaching terms at Ole Miss around
three years as head football coach at Millsaps College (2003-05).
During his first employment at Ole Miss, which began in December
1998, Saunders established an acclaimed recruiting program and was
lauded as one of the top nine recruiters in the nation by Tom Lemming of ESPN.com. He joined the Ole Miss athletic staff after working
with Tennessee during their national championship season of 1998,
where he assisted with on-campus recruiting.
Saunders worked two years as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State (1996-97). He spent the 1995 season
coaching safeties and special teams at Baylor.
From 1993-94, Saunders was the defensive coordinator and
defensive backs coach at Nicholls State. It was there that he worked
with Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Mark Hudspeth, who was the Colonels
wide receivers and tight ends coach in 1994.
From 1990 to 1992, Saunders coached the defensive line at Georgia Southern and helped lead the Eagles to the 1990 NCAA Division
I-AA national championship.
From 1984 to 1989, Saunders coached defensive backs and receivers while serving as recruiting coordinator at Jacksonville State.
While at JSU, Saunders coached defensive back Eric Davis, who
went on to earn NFL All-Pro honors in 1995 while playing for Super
Bowl Champion San Francisco. Saunders also coached receiver Keith
McKeller, who played in three Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills.
A native of Douglasville, Ga., Saunders received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn in 1982. He was a walk-on lineman for the Tigers.
He is married to the former Jan Perry and the couple have two
children, Riley and Kaylee
David Saunders at a glance
College: Auburn (1982)
Years at UL: 2nd
Coaching Experience: 27 seasons
Andalusia (Ala.) High (1982-83), assistant coach; Jacksonville State
(1984-89), defensive backs, receivers & recruiting coord.; Georgia
Southern (1990-92), defensive line; Nicholls State (1993-94),
defensive coord. & defensive backs; Baylor (1995), safeties; Arkansas
State (1996-97), defensive backs & recruiting coord.; Tennessee
(1998), on-campus recruiting assistant; Mississippi (1998-2002),
recruiting coord.; Millsaps (2003-05), head coach; Mississippi (2006),
linebackers; Mississippi (2010), adminsitrative assistant; Louisiana
(2011-present), assistant recruiting coord. & cornerbacks
40 U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A Former UL standout Troy Wingerter entered into a new role with
the Ragin’ Cajuns football program
in 2011, becoming the director of
football operations for head coach
Mark Hudspeth.
Wingerter started his career
with the University of Louisiana
Athletic Department in 1997. He was the tight ends coach as a graduate assistant from 1997-99.
Wingerter coached the defensive ends in 2001 under head coach
Jerry Baldwin and served in the role of Cajuns’ tight ends coach and
recruiting coordinator from 2002-10 for Rickey Bustle. Wingerter was
named Bustle’s assistant head coach for the 2009 and 2010 season.
Wingerter helped developed the tight ends from a frequent red
zone target for Cajuns quarterbacks to a legitimate weapon in the
UL offense. Cajuns tight ends made 160 receptions for 2,283 yards
with 22 touchdowns from 2008-10.
In 2009, tight end Luke Aubrey led the team in receptions while
tight end Ladarius Green topped the team in yards. Green was one
of just three underclassmen named to the 2009 Mackey Award Watch
List.
In 2010, Green was one of just eight semifinalists for the prestigious Mackey Award, which is given to the nation’s top tight tend.
He was a first team All-Sun Belt selection, a first team All-Louisiana
pick and garnered second team All-America honors by CBSSports.
com and fourth team All-America accolades by Phil Steele.
Entering his senior season, Green was named to the 2011 Mackey
Award Watch List and Bilitnekoff Award Watch List. Green was also
tabbed as a Top 5 draft eligible tight end by ESPN.com insider Mel
Kiper, Jr. and was named a preseason All-American by BleacherReport.
com (1st Team), Athlon (2nd Team), GoDaddy.com (3rd Team), Phil
Steele (4th Team) and CDSdraft.com (Honorable Mention).
Wingerter tutored a pair of red zone targets in Kevin Belton and
Luke Aubrey in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Both players had six receptions, but each caught three for touchdowns. Wingerter coached
Josh Joerg during his All-Sun Belt season in 2002.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1993, Wingerter embarked
on a four-year career in corporate business working in Lafayette, New
Orleans, Colorado and Montana. Upon his return to UL, Wingerter
earned a master’s degree in education.
A native of New Orleans, Wingerter was a first-team All-Louisiana
selection and an All-South Independent pick as a senior in 1991. He
helped guide the Cajuns to three straight winning seasons during his
first three years from 1987-89 and was a permanent team captain as
a senior.
He was selected as a member of the all-time University of Louisiana
football team as compiled by the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
Wingerter and his wife, Cydra, have two sons, Holden and Aiden.
Troy Wingerter at a glance
College: Louisiana (1993)
Years at UL: 14th
Coaching Experience: 13 seasons
Louisiana (1997-99), graduate assistant; Louisiana (2001), defensive
ends; Louisiana (2002-10), tight ends & recruiting coord.; Louisiana
(2011-present), director of football operations
www.ragincajuns.com
2012 Football
SUPPORT STAFF
TOM RYBACKI
ZACH LOCHARD
Defensive Graduate Assistant
Tom Rybacki returns for his second season as a defensive graduate assistant coach
for the Ragin’ Cajuns, working primarily with
the UL linebackers.
Rybacki came to Lafayette after spending six years at Jacksonville State (2005-10).
He served as a student assistant coach from 2005-08 before taking
over as a graduate assistant for his final two seasons (2009-10).
As a graduate assistant, he coached the cornerbacks, helping
to develop All-American cornerback T.J. Heath and helped lead the
Gamecocks to a victory over Ole Miss in 2010.
Rybacki holds a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree
in public administration, both from Jacksonville State.
RYAN CONWAY
Offensive & Special Teams
Graduate Assistant
Ryan Conway begins his second season
as a graduate assistant coach for the Ragin’
Cajuns.
Conway will once again work with the
UL receivers while taking on additional duties helping to coach the
UL special teams units this year.
Prior to UL, Conway worked as a student assistant coach with the
offense at Mississippi State for two seasons from 2009-2010.
Conway worked for the Florence Phantoms from 2008-2009 as a
player personnel intern. During his time there, the Phantoms won
the AIFA Arena Championship.
Conway holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Wofford,
where he played baseball from 2007-2008 and helped the team to
the 2007 Southern Conference Championship.
WILLIAM PEAGLER
Offensive Graduate Assistant
William Peagler is in is second season
working with the UL football program and
his first as a graduate assistant coach working with the Ragin’ Cajuns offense.
Peagler came to Lafayette in 2011 to
serve as offensive quality control assistant,
working with head coach Mark Hudspeth and the offensive coaching
staff.
Peagler began his coaching career as a student assistant at Clemson from 2006-09, primarily working with the offense. He was part
of the 2009 team that won the Atlantic Division, assisting with the
national recruitment efforts that helped to bring three top-25 signing
classes into the program.
In 2010, Peagler moved to Valdosta State, where he was tight
ends coach for the squad that won the Gulf South Championship.
Peagler holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management from
Clemson.
2012 Football
Defensive Graduate Assistant
Zach Lochard joins the football staff in
2012 as the graduate assistant coach for the
Ragin’ Cajuns defense.
Lochard came to UL in 2011 to serve as
an intern for the strength and conditioning
program.
A 2008 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a
bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science, Lochard went on to
earn a master’s degree in human performance and physical education
from Adams State University in 2012. He is currently working towards
completing the requirements for a doctorate in the UL education
leadership program.
Lochard began his coaching career as the assistant wide receivers coach at Northern Colorado in 2008. He moved to Western State
College in 2009, serving as defensive backs coach in 2009 and tight
ends coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2010.
In 2009, he is earned his certification from USA Weightlifting.
RYAN TRICHEL
Asst. Recruiting Coordinator/
Asst. Director of Football
Operations
Ryan Trichel begins his second season as
a member of the Ragin’ Cajuns support staff,
serving as assistant recruiting coordinator
this year.
In his role with the Cajuns, Trichel coordinates the day-to-day
recruiting operations, including handling correspondence and
monitoring a recruiting management program that the UL coaches
utilize.
Trichel coordinates on-campus recruiting events and official visits.
He also helps to maintain the recruiting boards and roster. He also
serves as the social media administrator.
A 2006 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana with a degree in
general management, Trichel attended Mississippi State, earning a
master’s degree in sports administration in 2008 and a second master’s
in business administration in 2010.
Hunter Bonvillain
Student Assistant
www.ragincajuns.com
Garrett Kreamer
Student Assistant
Sean Murphy
Intern
U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A 41
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
RUSTY WHITT
JAKE RAYBURN
Head Strength &
Conditioning Coach
Assistant Strength &
Conditioning Coach
Rusty Whitt began his tenure as the
University of Louisiana’s head strength and
conditioning coach in October 2010.
Whitt, who served in the United States
Army as a Senior Special Forces Communication Sergeant in the 10th
Special Forces Group, came to Louisiana from Rice University where
he served as assistant coordinator of strength and conditioning from
March 2009 until his hiring at UL.
At Rice, Whitt designed and implemented year-round strength,
speed, mobility, cardiovascular conditioning and injury rehabilitation
programs for football, baseball, track and field and swimming.
Prior to joining the staff at Rice, he served in the United States Army
from Aug. 2003-Jan. 2009. He was deployed to Iraq during Operation
Iraqi Freedom (OIF) V and VI.
Whitt developed and initiated a comprehensive pre-deployment
conditioning program for his Special Forces Team prior to and during
OIF V and VI. He received a combat infantry badge, two Iraqi campaign
medals and an Army commendation medal with valor.
Whitt began his strength and conditioning career with graduate
assistantships at Midwestern State University (Aug. 1995-June 1996)
and the University of Texas (June 1996-May 1997). He performed an
internship in the strength and conditioning department at the U.S.
Olympic Training Center (May-Sept. 1997).
Whitt had stints as an assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for football at William and Mary (Dec. 1997-Aug. 1998) and
Louisville (Aug.-Dec. 1998) before being named the head strength
and conditioning coach at Sam Houston State in Dec. 1998.
At SHSU, Whitt served as an instructor in the kinesiology department and assisted in the design of a new weight facility. He also
worked with current Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin
until Aug. 2003.
Over his career, Whitt has participated in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl,
1998 Motor City Bowl, I-AA football playoffs and NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Whitt earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and administration from Abilene Christian University in 1994 and his master’s
degree in kinesiology from Texas in 1997.
He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the
National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Joseph James
Volunteer Assistant
42 U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A Chris Masson
Intern
Brad McGuire
Intern
Jake Rayburn is in his sixth year as an
as an assistant strength and conditioning
coach for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
He joined the University of Louisiana
strength and conditioning staff in July 2006.
In his role, he assists in the day-to-day development and implementation of the off-season, summer and in-season workouts for the
Cajuns football team. His other duties at UL include overseeing the
strength and conditioning programs for baseball, softball, golf, soccer
and tennis.
In the summer of 2006, Rayburn came to UL from Tulane, where he
served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for two years
(2004-06). During that time, he worked with women’s basketball,
soccer and track and field.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he was relocated to Ruston, La., with the football team and was placed in charge
of the in-season strength and conditioning program and game-day
duties. Upon returning to campus, he conducted off-season workouts
for men’s basketball.
Prior to arriving at Tulane, Rayburn served as a graduate assistant
at Middle Tennessee from 2001-04, assisting with workouts for all 15
sports. During that time, he worked directly with men’s & women’s
golf and tennis.
Rayburn is originally from Martin, Tenn., and graduated from
Tennessee-Martin in 2001. He also completed an internship at Tennessee during the summer of 2001, where he assisted with football
and men’s basketball.
He and his wife Andrea have two daughters, Callie and Hailey.
JASON MANIKOWSKI
Assistant Strength &
Conditioning Coach
Jason Manikowski arrived at the University of Louisiana in June 2011 to serve as an
assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Manikowski joined the Cajuns’ strength
staff after spending the previous 17 months
as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at TCU.
While at TCU, Manikowski was the head strength coach for the
Horned Frogs women’s basketball and equestrian programs. He designed all of the strength, speed and agility programs for women’s
basketball, while assisting with football.
In the summer of 2009, Manikowski served as an intern at TCU
where he helped demonstrate proper technique in performing
Olympic lifts and improving speed development.
Prior to working at TCU, he was employed as a physical education
teacher at St. Catherine’s High School in Racine, Wisc.
In 2007, Manikowski was the assistant strength and conditioning
coach for football at his alma mater, Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
Manikowski holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education
and health education from UW-Oshkosh, where he was a four-year
starting free safety for the Titans. He was a second team Wisconsin
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-conference selection in 2005
and earned a preseason All-American accolade going into his senior
campaign in 2006.
www.ragincajuns.com
2012 Football
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
SCOTT FARMER
Director of Athletics
Scott Farmer has over a
quarter of a century working
in all aspects of intercollegiate athletics, perfectly preparing him for when he took
over as Louisiana’s director of
athletics in October 2011.
Now in his sixth year
working with the Ragin’ Cajuns, the first three as senior
associate athletic director,
Farmer knowledge and insight has already impacted the UL athletic programs.
In his first five years at UL, Farmer has:
• played an integral role in establishing and growing the Ragin’
Cajuns Athletic Foundation in 2009. The RCAF works to enhance the
department’s annual operating budget and provide financial support
to UL’s 16 varsity programs. In 2011-12, the RCAF was responsible for
raising more than $4 million;
• increased annual revenue through sponsorships and naming
rights to almost $700,000 in 2011-12; • worked to develop a master facilities plan for athletics which will
provide Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes and coaches with the facilities
needed to compete nationally at the highest of levels;
• coordinated facility improvements that included the addition of
artificial turf in both Cajun Field and M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field, renovating Lamson Park and the Cox Communications Athletic Complex;
• been responsible for the hiring of coaches Mark Hudspeth
(football), Bob Marlin (men’s basketball), Garry Brodhead (women’s
basketball) and Lon Badeaux (track), who have stabilized their respective programs and provided UL with strong performances in their
inaugural years;
• made UL athletic events more accessible to fans by creating
the Ragin’ Cajuns Network, which annually televises events to the
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette markets. He also helped to
expand the Ragin’ Cajuns Radio Network to include stations in New
Orleans, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Rayne, Monroe and New Iberia,
covering the five-largest metropolitan areas in the state;
• the driving force behind the creation of GEAUX, a football game
day program that has grown to 116 pages of features, profiles, statistics and other information for Cajun football fans. The program sold
out its advertising space for 2012.
• has worked to almost double the number of football season
tickets sold, from just under 4,800 in 2007 to over 9,000 for the 2012
campaign;
• negotiated an apparel deal with Russell Athletics for all Ragin’
Cajuns sports, a first for the department; and
• completed a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Softball
Committee, serving as the chair in both 2011 and 2012.
Farmer’s first year as athletic director resulted in great success for
the Ragin’ Cajuns. In 2011-12, eight of the 16 UL programs advanced
to postseason play in their respective sports, including football making its first bowl appearance since 1970 and men’s basketball hosting
a postseason game on campus for the first time since 1985.
2012 Football
In the classroom, Ragin’ Cajuns student-athletes have recorded a
combined GPA of 2.80 or higher for a record four straight semesters,
with over half owning a GPA of 3.0 or higher. All 16 teams have an
Academic Progress Rate score well above the NCAA requirements
for their respective sport with soccer receiving a public recognition
award from the NCAA for posting a multi-year APR score in the top
10 percent of all squads in their respective sport
Farmer’s efforts have helped attendance at UL events to reach
an all-time high with both baseball and softball leading the Sun Belt
in attendance for the 13th straight year. Football set the Sun Belt
records for average and total attendance and led all FBS schools with
an increased average attendance of 11,788. The crowd of 42,841 for
the New Orleans Bowl shattered the old bowl record for attendance
by more than 12,000.
Farmer came to Lafayette after eight years at Troy University
(1999-2007) where he worked as senior associate athletic director
and oversaw the internal workings of Troy’s 17-sport program while
being directly responsible for the department’s sports programs, the
support staff and the business office. He helped the Trojans make the
move to the NCAA Division I-FBS level and the Sun Belt Conference.
As part of the move, Farmer oversaw a massive renovation of the
athletic facilities, including an $18 million renovation of football’s
Veterans Memorial Stadium, new facilities for softball, tennis, track
and soccer plus facility upgrades for both basketball and baseball.
While serving as interim athletic director in 2004-05, he guided
the football program to become the first league member to receive
an at-large bowl bid, playing in the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl.
A native of Ormond Beach, Fla., Farmer was a four-year letterman
in swimming at Georgia Southern, being named the school’s male
scholar-athlete of the year in 1985. He received his bachelor’s degree
in health and physical education in 1986 and a master’s in sports
management in 1987.
After graduating, Farmer began his career in athletics as head
women’s swimming coach at Georgia Southern in 1986. He led the
Eagles to eight conference titles in nine seasons, compiling a 65-25
record (.722) to become the winningest coach in program history.
Promoted to a dual-position of assistant athletic director for sports
programs, student-athlete services and event management in 1988,
he left coaching following the 1995-96 season to concentrate on his
duties overseeing student-athlete services. He left GSU in 1997 after
12 years.
During his tenure at Georgia Southern – both as a student and as
an administrator – the Eagles won 4 NCAA FCS (Division I-AA) football
national championships.
Farmer’s introduction to athletics came at an early age. His father, Bud Farmer, served as director of athletics and head swimming
coach at Daytona Beach Community College (now Daytona State
College).
Farmer is married to the former Jackie Davis, a record-setting
swimmer who he met at Georgia Southern. The couple have two
children, a daughter, Kaitlin and a son, Kyle.
www.ragincajuns.com
U niver s i t y O F L O U I S I A N A 43